NEED TO KNOW
The cover art for David Archuleta’s forthcoming memoir is on its way!
On Wednesday, July 23, the American Idol alum, 34, shared the first look at his book Devout — which features the subtitle for the memoir, “Losing My Faith to Find Myself.”
According to a synopsis from publisher Gallery Books, Devout is set to tell a “raw and powerful coming-out story from the beloved American Idol finalist” that follow’s Archuleta’s journey “from closeted Mormon teen to global pop star to openly queer man, revealing the hidden pressures of fame, the weight of religious expectations and the courage it takes to live authentically.”
Robert Ascroft
According to a press release, Devout will feature Archuleta’s reflections on the double life he was leading as a teenage pop star while also struggling with his “faith, fame and identity.”
The memoir will also give fans an insight into some of of the highest — and lowest — moments in the “Crush” singer’s career, including his time on American Idol, dealing with his “domineering” father who controlled his career as a teen, facing emotional abuse and coming to terms with his ever-changing relationship to the Mormon faith.
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“This searing memoir reflects on David’s ventures with American Idol, a tour with Demi Lovato and a two-year sabbatical as a missionary in South America, charting his path through heartbreak, estrangement, three engagements, thoughts of suicide and finally, his courageous decision to leave the Mormon Church in order to live authentically as a queer man,” the synopsis continues.
“Featuring never-before-seen photos, Devout is a must-read for fans of pop culture, American Idol and anyone deconstructing their religious upbringing, or who’s ever wrestled with who they are versus who they’re told to be,” it continues.
Irvin Rivera
Speaking to PEOPLE earlier this year, the musician shared that he hopes to get as candid as possible about how he wrestled with his sexuality and faith for so long, including his 2021 coming-out journey and time in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints before his exit the following year.
“It’s about coming out of the closet, coming out of Mormonism and trying to teach people why coming out is not just a choice,” Archuleta told PEOPLE on Feb. 2. “Because people from where I grew up thought, ‘Well, you made the choice to do that. Why would you do that?’ And it’s like, well, I tried everything not to be queer.”
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Although he said at the time that crafting a memoir hasn’t been an easy process for the singer, as he joked, “I didn’t realize how controversial my life is,” Archuleta told PEOPLE his writing is “in a good place” and he can’t wait for its release.
“I feel like it’s an important message,” he says. “Even if it’s some risky stuff to talk about, I think we need to talk about certain things. I’m ready to go on tour. I’m ready to talk about the topics, and if there’s anything that people don’t understand, I’m ready to combat that too.”
Devout comes out Feb. 17, 2026 and is available for preorder now, wherever books are sold.
